Author Spotlight
Mary Gagen
Go Syl!
Every single one of senior Sylvia MohrSting’s matches start with her dad Ian Morhmann shouting these words. And her final match, competing for fifth place, at the Kansas State High School Activities Association state tournament began no differently.
MohrSting began her warm-up, just like always — ten matches early, by herself in a corner of the gymnasium. She gets herself in the zone as she jogs and stretches while preparing for her match, repeatedly visualizing her success, hitting her shots and taking her opponent down, until it’s time to approach the mat.
“I always tell myself that I’m going to win,” MohrSting said. “There was never a thought that I was going to lose that match.”
She founded the girls program with current teammate and best friend, senior Abi Contreras in their freshman year, 2021. MohrSting was the first female wrestler from East to qualify for the state tournament. And she completed her wrestling career as the fifth in the state — the first girls state placer in East history.
The match began with hand fighting and shots — both approaches used to try to take down the opponent in order to gain points — for the majority of the first two periods, which are two minutes each. Points are given for controlling her opponent on the ground. MohrSting defended a shot in the second period and earned three points.
In the third period, her opponent attempted to hit another shot. MohrSting defended it and stayed on top of her opponent. To win the match, she had to stay on top and ride out — control her opponent, preventing an escape or reversal — for a minute.
Finally, the whistle blew to signal the end of the match. Her dad embraced her, eyes brimming with tears.
“I was just so excited for her,” Mohrmann said. “She set out with these goals in mind — competing, starting something that was very intimidating and walking into a wrestling room with no one else before her — to accomplish her goals.”
This match secured MohrSting’s title as first girls wrestler in SM East history to place at the state tournament — her third time setting a precedent for the girls wrestling program — earning fifth place.
“Oh my gosh,” MohrSting said. “I did it.”
According to MohrSting, self-talk is the most important part of the sport. She attributes much of her growth to her self-talk over the years, which is a large part of her warm-up routine. While she did have success in her first two years of competing, her senior year proved the most statistically successful of all, with her winning over 40 matches and being ranked in the top six 140-pound girls in the state for the majority of the season.
“I think she’s the gold standard for East wrestling, for boys and girls,” Girls coach Tanner Laird said. “Not because of her accomplishments, but her character, her work ethic and her personality.”
According to Laird, MohrSting and Contreras lead the girls’ team in warm-ups without direction from coaches. According to Laird, the pair completes every rep, drill and exercise, and they support each of their teammates unconditionally.
Contreras believes MohrSting deserves everything she’s worked for and more, as they’ve grown together as athletes and friends. The two began as only practice partners, but they’ve developed a life-long friendship by improving together in their sport.
“She shines in everything that she does,” Contreras said. “She taught me a lot. I learned some sort of work ethic from being her friend.”
Laird believes that MohrSting and Contreras have both become an integral part of the program and will leave a long-lasting impression. According to Laird, MohrSting’s sustained joyous demeanor, work ethic and encouragement pushes the team to grow as a whole.
“There’s not enough ink to put on the pages to talk about how great Sylvia is,” Laird said.
Each and every teammate, coach and family member interviewed emphasized MohrSting’s overwhelming positive attitude, willingness to help and her dedication to whatever she sets her mind to.
“The success has not been forever,” MohrSting said. “It’s definitely been a growing and learning journey.”
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